The good news is more pupils are learning to play instruments than ever before; the bad news is they’re mostly learning the violin. Our thoughts go out to the nation’s music teachers, who are forced to spend increasing amounts of time in close proximity to screechy rackets. We can hardly believe that the violin has replaced the recorder at the top of the charts. But the much-loved (and quiet) wind instrument has been abandoned by pupils because they think it’s too childish.